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TASMANIAN MEN’S SHED ASSOCIATION INC
EDITION 26 | AUTUMN - 2021
Connecting
TO OUR
past
READ THE STORY ON PG 7
TMSA - KeepConnected
THE PEAK BODY FOR MEN’S SHEDS IN TASMANIA
www.tasmanianmenshed.org.au
Greetings to fellow Shed members, Presidents Report
I hope everyone is prepared for what the year
ahead will deal out!!!
The Executive Committee has had an exceptionally
busy start to the year, with government meetings,
submitting progress reports and also preparation
for further funding of our organisation.
Thanks must go to our volunteer committee
members that made the time available for the
meetings. Along with this has also been time spent
assisting a number of Sheds with relocation
problems, hopefully we are now over the major
hurdles and are on the home straight. We must
thank the Government officials that have assisted in Executive Officer:
these matters. As the number of Sheds grows, along with it comes
Gatherings: more demands on our executive officer, as well as
All sheds should have received an email inviting the growth of our Shed numbers by approximately
expressions of interest in hosting either a local or 10 percent, MOU’s with a number of fellow “Peak
regional gathering, the gatherings are a vital part of Body” Organisations, there are additional meetings
the TMSA DNA, as without feedback from our sheds and reports to be submitted to the Government
our destination is unclear. For the few sheds that with an increase of approximately 60 percent that
are prepared to host the gatherings, we thank you our executive officer is required to satisfy.
and our representatives will be in touch soon to I must bring to Shed members attention that the
arrange the finer details. executive officer’s role is a part time role (only 3
As part of the gatherings we seek comment from days per week) and to please keep this in mind
the Sheds on what areas shed members require when reaching out. Also please be aware that the
additional training and support that would be of “Area Representatives“ are there to help share the
benefit. This could be governance training for load.
committee members from financial reporting, Representative Vacancies:
efficient meeting procedures, report writing and Due to a number of committee members moving on
most importantly grant applications. since our AGM, and the appointment of Latrobe
It is up to the Sheds to nominate what they see as a member Fred Wales to the position of Vice
critical requirement and how they would prefer for President we have vacancies in both the
it to be delivered, be it via video sessions, face to Southern Area (2 members) And North West Coast
face, or information provided for members to work (1 member) If any members feel that they would like
through at their own pace. to join the committee, we extend an invitation to
If we have skilled members that are prepared to come along and sit in at one of our state committee
“Buddy up” with members of neighbouring sheds meetings to get a first hand idea as to what is
we would encourage them to do so, I feel that not involved. hopefully it will be a rewarding experience
only will both members gain from the exercise, for you. As a reminder TMSA is run by the Sheds for
TMSA would as well. the Sheds, and we offer a “hand up” not a
“hand out”.
Shed Insurance
At the time of writing this report the Insurances for
sheds is an extremely hot topic, an email is available
detailing some of the Insurance companies some of
our sheds have or are using. I must stress at this
time, it is the responsibility of the sheds to research
and negotiate their own insurance covers.
Please ensure you read all the small print.
On closing the TMSA Committee members and I
look forward to meeting as many members as
possible at gatherings as they unfold around the
state in the coming months.
2 | SHED NEWS AUTUMN 2021
Jeremy Rockliff
Welcome to the first edition of vaccinations, with the aim of giving all Tasmanians
Shed News for 2021! aged 18 and over the opportunity to get vaccinated
for free by the end of October 2021.
The aim remains to have fully vaccinated Tasmania’s
Firstly congratulations to the Sheds successful in priority populations of around 14,000 people with the
the recent Mens Shed Grants Round, which Pfizer vaccine by mid-April. If you are looking for more
supports the sustainable development of Men's information on the vaccination rollout, head to
Sheds in Tasmania. I look forward to being able to https://www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/-
visit more sheds this year, to say hi to you and see covid-19-vaccines/getting-vaccinated-for-covid-19/whe
firsthand the great work you are doing. n-will-i-get-a-covid-19-vaccine
The Grants Program is open to TMSA members and Tasmania remains in a good place, but as we have
non-TMSA member organisations that operate as a seen in other states, the threat of COVID has not gone
Men’s Shed and align with the TMSA values and vision, away, and despite the rollout of the vaccination
and a full list of the successful Sheds can be found program, we must not become complacent.
online at www.communities.tas.gov.au/csr Your Shed community continues to be vital in keeping
I also thank you all for keeping each other safe, and I you all connected, and as we head into the colder
thank the TMSA for finding new ways to stay connect- months (already!), stay well, and stay safe.
ed, such as your online auction for fundraising for the Remember to maintain physical distancing and good
ABC Giving Tree- well done! hand hygiene, stay home if you’re sick, and make sure
It is hard to believe it is already March 2021, though a you get tested even if you have the mildest of
lot has already happened this year, including the start symptoms. If you have questions about COVID-19 or
of the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccinations. feel unwell with COVID-19 symptoms, I encourage you
After such a challenging 12 months though, things are to call the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738.
looking up here in Tasmania and indeed, across the Jeremy Rockliff
state. Indeed, we can look to the future with optimism Minister for Community Development
with the vaccine rollout now in full swing and and Disability Services
proceeding well.
Until next time, happy reading.
Getting a COVID-19 vaccine will help protect you, your
family, your friends and the shed community.
We continue to work with the Australian Government
to ensure Tasmanians can access safe COVID-19
From the EO TMSA - KeepConnected
Just a quick G’day from me as this Autumn edition is jam packed with stories and info that I hope
you will all enjoy. Thanks to those that have supplied stories and photos – keep them coming! We
have lots to look forward to this year and our gatherings are about to recommence, where you may
be lucky to win a significant prize. To those I haven’t visited as yet this year, I look forward to seeing
you soon. Shed visits remain the highlight of my day.
Take good care everyone and keep in touch – Wendy
AUTUMN 2021
4 | SHED NEWS AUTUMN 2021
This is a fantastic event held by
TMSA members Hobart Vintage
Machinery Society - get along and
have a look, you won’t be
disappointed. TMSA volunteers will
be manning a stand on the day.
Can you guess who this is? Here’s a clue - belongs to
a North West Shed and is an active member of the
Men’s Shed Movement!
AUTUMN 2021 SHED NEWS | 5
S HED H EA L T H
New tests for measuring
dementia risk
CANTAB – thinking and memory
The term cognition refers to the thinking and
memory aspects of our consciousness and is a
core focus of dementia research. In the ISLAND
Project we are tracking long-term changes in
cognitive functions such as thinking speed,
memory and spatial awareness. Technological
advancements in recent years have enabled
cognitive tests to be conducted remotely, using
Blood collection the internet.
Over the next few years, we will invite ISLAND
Over the last few decades, positron participants to complete some cognitive tests
emission tomography (PET) and using the CANTAB (Cambridge
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery)
scans have allowed us to detect the program.
proteins that build up in the brain and
contribute to dementia. However, these TasTest – motor function
imaging tests are expensive and time
Did you know that hand movement
consuming. New exciting research
patterns subtly change in the earliest
shows that these brain proteins can be
stages of dementia? Researchers at the
found in the blood.
University of Tasmania have recently
Using blood-based biological markers,
embarked on the development of TasTest -
or biomarkers, is far cheaper and less
a new screening test for dementia that
invasive than brain scans.
analyses hand movements.
Over the first half of 2021, we plan to
collect the first round of blood samples This project is a world-first, using participants’
from ISLAND participants across home computer to assess hand movements
Tasmania. We will then collect blood and cognition (thinking, speech and memory).
again every two years for the duration of One of our leading ISLAND researchers,
the 10-year ISLAND study, to investigate Dr Jane Alty, has recently received funding
changes in the levels of these proteins in from the National Health and Medical
order to see if changing behavioural and Research Council to undertake extensive
lifestyle factors alters an individual’s risk testing, validation and piloting of TasTest in
of dementia. Tasmania and NSW.
So far, TasTest has been piloted in Tasmanian
Healthy Brain Project and a small number of
ISLAND participants. Thank you to all
participants who have engaged in pilot testing
to date, we really appreciate your valuable
input. We are now using the data from
these pilots to refine the test and
will invite the rest of ISLAND
participants to do this test
in the near future.
6 | SHED NEWS SUMMER 2020
tin
AROUN D T HE SHED S Connec g
TO OUR
past
Penguin Shed Story | Darryl Barker
I have been a member of the Penguin Men’s Shed As a Stock Agent I worked at weekly sales in
since it was formed in 2016, and President for the Ulverstone, Cooee and Quoiba, and also at many
last 2 years. I have been an outdoor person all farm sales to Tasmanian and mainland stock
my life, either farming or as a Stock Agent and buyers.
Stock Advisor. In the 1980’s and early 1990’s Tasmania sold
shiploads of older sheep to the Middle Eastern
I have been a member of Tasmanian Rural Youth Countries. These ships would carry between
(known as Junior Farmers in the early days), and I 60,000 and 110,000 sheep. The sheep were taken
am still an active member of the Tasmanian Rural into quarantine at Spreyton, inspected and fed on
Youth Advisory Board. hay and pellets for 7 days before being loaded at
In 1962 I was awarded a Junior Farmer Exchange the Devonport wharf in 36 hours. I co-ordinated
Scholarship to travel to Great Britain. Years earlier the delivery and feeding for that period – it was a
I also received a Nuffield Farm Scholarship to lot of hard work, a lot of dust and a lot of fun with
study agriculture in Great Britain and Europe for hard working dogs.
6 months. As a Stock Advisor my experience and advice
My farming pursuits were growing fresh vegeta- hopefully helped farmers with buying, feeding and
bles for the supermarket and retail trade; and selling livestock. Recently I brokered a sale of 1500
delivering vegetables to Launceston and coastal steers from one farm to another with a gross
shops on a weekly basis. We also produced fat value of just over $1 million – a record sale I
lambs for the British and local markets whilst on believe.
the cattle side, we had a herd of beef cows I was also an ABC reporter for 23 years, telling the
producing vealers for the supermarket trade. public the good and tough stories on livestock
sales on the North West Coast.
1
1: Our Shed mascot
AUTUMN 2021 SHED NEWS | 7
AROUN D T HE SHED S
1
3
4
2 4
1 & 2: The team from Veterans and Community Wood Centre 3: Formerly from Queenstown, 90 year old Jim Young (known
enjoy a visit to Beckett’s Mack Trucks at Exeter fondly as Young Jim) one of Tasmania’s oldest Sheds - Hobart’s
Central Men’s Shed
4: The Oatlands crew perusing Shed Stories
8 | SHED NEWS AUTUMN 2021
SHED N EWS
Ulverstone’s Mystery Bus Tour
by Rob McKenzie Thirty of our members’ boarded the bus recent-
ly for our mystery trip. The first stop was
Cement Australia plant at Railton.
The management welcomed us to morning tea and
then an induction and provided a short history of
the plant. We then donned our hard hats and fluro
vests for a tour of the plant. This was an eye opener
for all of us. The size of the open cut to the huge
shed where ore is stored and the operating plant all
run at a control room overseen by 2 operators.
We in Tasmania are fortunate to have such an
economic environmentally aware and profitable
industry in our midst. After a BBQ lunch kindly
supplied by our hosts and farewells, we were a bit
behind our time schedule, however we arrived at
Timberland at Meander to a completely different
environment. There was timber and logs every-
where with 3 saw mills in operation. Everyone was
astonished at the variety of timber available and the
various machines in use. After a photo shoot and a
thank you we high tailed it to the Mole Creek Pub
for some well-earned refreshments, arriving back
home at around 5.30. It was a great day full of fun
laughter and plenty of yarns.
AUTUMN 2021 SHED NEWS | 9
SHED N EWS
Wooden Talents
1 3
2 4
1: Cool cubby from Huonville 3: Letterbox from Port Cygnet
2: Hand crafted knitting needles from Port Cygnet 4: The ever popular bird box - this ones from
Huonville
10 | SHED NEWS AUTUMN 2021AROUN D T HE SHED S
Our Volunteers
Volunteers are the unsung heroes in our
communities and they are the heart and soul of our
Men’s Sheds. Your TMSA Committee works tirelessly
behind the scenes seeking no recognition for the
workload they take on. They are committed to ‘giving
back’ to our Men’s Shed Movement. Our new
President David Seen (Penguin) and Treasurer Dave
Gray (Exeter) recently visiting Sorell, Claremont and
Hobart Historical Vintage Machinery.
AUTUMN 2021 SHED NEWS | 11S HED TI P S
The Importance of Sanding David Gray
Part 1: To be continued in the next edition
Sanding is probably one of the most I find it beneficial to occasionally put the work
mundane parts of woodworking, however it is through three or four times on the one setting to
also one of the most important. I have seen reduce the pressure on the belt as it seems to
many projects let down by being poorly increase over a few adjustments.
sanded prior to finishing with machine Another practice that I have found beneficial is to
marks, blemishes in the form of chips, raised put the work through the machine at a slight
grain, dents and scratches either from the angle so that as the piece moves through the
working process or incorrect sanding, and machine it also works its way across the drum.
also the cardinal sin- pencil marks!! This prevents the work being in the same place
It won’t matter if your design is good or your on the drum for its entire length and therefore
joints are perfect, if the job isn’t sanded correctly reduces the heat buildup and subsequent
then it won’t get full marks, no-one will appreci- burning. The angle should only be slight, say 5 to
ate a job that looks like a cat’s plaything! It also 10 degrees so as to not cause minor cross grain
won’t matter how diligently you apply your finish, sanding, which can be eliminated in any case by
if the work is not sanded correctly then no putting the work through square on the final
amount of effort in applying the finish will fix it. couple of passes without having adjusted the
Sanding is either done by hand or by machine, height. The belt(s) should also be cleaned regu-
machining comes first and will normally be hand larly, both during the process if you have a lot of
sanded later, but not always. So, we will cover timber to sand and definitely as the last thing you
machining first, do before leaving the machine as consideration
for the next user. I have found that the heat
Drum Sanders-most Shed’s now have one of
buildup and friction that causes burning is
these of various types, they are very good
nothing compared to the heat buildup and
machines but are often incorrectly used, a drum
friction that is caused by leaving a dirty and
sander is not a thicknesser! More often than not
unusable belt for the next bloke to find!! Belt
the issue with them is clogging of the belt and
cleaning sticks can be purchased from the
subsequent burnt lines in the timber which can
machine suppliers, I have even heard of people
be very hard to eliminate, to say nothing of
using an old sandshoe, thong or a piece of hose.
removing the adhered crud on the belt. The
I haven’t tried any of these but they may very well
cause is usually that the operator is trying to
work? I also consider a 120-grit belt on a single
remove too much wood in one pass or that the
drum sander adequate for most purposes, some
timber being sanded is very resinous or possibly
people like to run a 100 grit and 180 grit belts on
not even fully dry? In my experience Blackwood is
their twin drum sanders, 120 grit on both drums
about the worst timber for burning although all
actually does quite a good job too.
timbers will do it if you try to take too much off in
one pass.
Excess glue can also clog the belt, remove it first
either with a scraper or the belt sander. To start,
I tend to set the drum a little high and then as
the timber is passing through, I bring the drum to
the point where it is just touching the work and I
then put it through once more as it won’t have
been sanded along its entire length at that
setting. I then adjust the winder by about one
degree of turn and put the work through twice at
that setting. The process is repeated until such
time as the work surface is fully sanded.
12 | SHED NEWS AUTUMN 2021S HED TI P S
The Importance of Sanding Cont.
A 120-grit belt is adequate for most purposes.
This is not so coarse that it leaves deep scratches
in the timber and yet still removes a reasonable
amount of waste. I have used a 40 Grit belt to
square up a piece of limb wood and it worked
brilliantly, peeling off the waste in no time but
this would not be generally used. Similarly, I
doubt you would use anything finer than say 180
grit on a regular basis, these are not a fine
finishing machine. bKeep your belt clean too,
Edge Sanders or Linishers- these are somewhat
particularly when you leave it for others to use.
less prone to clogging and burning than drum
sanders although it can still occur if too much Spindle Sander- these are a great little machine
pressure is applied. Light, even pressure is all for cleaning up internal curves with a number of
that is required particularly if you are sanding spindle sizes available. Due to the small surface
end grain, just let the belt and machine do the area and that one is almost always sanding end
work and everything will be fine. grain, they are very prone to heat and
subsequent burning of the wood and also wear
Some machines oscillate as the belt travels
quite quickly. Again, don’t use much pressure,
around thus reducing the heat buildup in one
just let the machine do the work.
place although there is a lot of belt length and so
this is less likely than on a drum sander. An I have yet to find one of these that has an
oscillating motion also allows usage of a greater adjustable table height, although some do
portion of the belt thus reducing heat and wear oscillate, and therefore the spindle tends to wear
in one area. The table on these machines is on the bottom half only. When worn simply take
height adjustable so that all the width of the belt it off and turn it over, you might as well get your
can be used, don’t simply leave the table at the monies worth out of it?
lowest height setting, move it occasionally and Belt Sander- these are a much maligned tool as
get your money’s worth from the belt. people are often wary of them considering them
These machines really peel a lot of skin off when heavy and cumbersome and too difficult to
your fingers contact the belt and the wound is control. They are the workhorse of the shed,
quite painful, it also bleeds profusely. I speak make friends with them and they will repay you
here from experience! (in my home shed thank- by doing the hard work without you raising a
fully so I didn’t have to explain my stupidity to sweat.I prefer a sander that takes a 100mm wide
others!) Keep your workpiece up against the stop belt, 75mm feels too narrow and slightly unsta-
whenever you can as it can grab on the belt and ble. A popular brand of sander has a model that
remove itself from your grasp quite rapidly, is actually a 75mm unit with a 100mm base plate
thereby bringing your fingers into contact with and rollers, the motor is powerful enough to
the belt. I have found that the gap between the drive the wider belt and these are probably the
end of the mitre stop and the belt is a bit wide, I most popular sander in use? I don’t understand
have had a thin wedge shaped piece of timber why other manufacturers don’t have similar
jam itself between the two and it does so quite models. Again, I find that 120 grit is a good all
quickly and firmly as well. I screwed a piece of round belt, not too coarse and yet still takes an
timber to the stop to close the gap to about adequate amount of material off, 100 grit is good
2mm, this works well. too. Anything less is getting a bit coarse for
everyday use, and more suited to bulk removal of
Please note that I am talking about the mitre stop
material.
here, not the fixed one right at the end of the
belt. I think if you closed this gap you would limit
Continued
the dust extraction.
AUTUMN 2021 SHED NEWS | 13S HED TI P S
The Importance of Sanding through with the belt running on the rear of the
base plate, a most undesirable situation. This is a
Part 2 coming soon clear indication that the user/owner doesn’t
I have found the most common problem with know what they are doing, or that they don’t
belt sanders is the user (as with most machines care? It is called maintenance.
actually!), they don’t set the belt up to track A word of warning if you happen to accidentally
properly on the rollers. Just about every sander sand a nail or screw head. Whilst this won’t
you pick up will have wear on the inside of the damage the belt too much if you sand the
body due to the belt being set too close and occasional nail, a hardened screw will remove the
subsequently cutting into the metal. I have seen grit and possibly cut the belt. The critical issue is
it cut right through the body and apart from that sanding either a nail or screw can produce
weakening it, it also creates a razor sharp edge sparks that are then mixed with the very fine
just waiting to cut human flesh. The first thing wood dust within the dust bag. This dust is
you do when fitting a new belt is to run the readily combustible. More often than not this
machine off the job and adjust the belt tracking comes to nothing however, I have had a dust bag
by way of the little knob on the side of the burn on at least two occasions in my 48 years of
machine. Just get the belt tracking evenly on the building. Whilst this was just a smoldering fire
rollers then run the machine on the job and that burnt through the bag, it could have caused
check to see that it remains tracking evenly, a major issue if put away in the shed and left for
adjusting if necessary. If the outside of the belt is the night. A floor sander friend also had a dust
flush with the outside of the rollers it will be bag on his machine catch fire on the back of his
about right. A bold texta mark on the top of the ute whilst he was driving home from the same
body to show where the inside edge of the belt cause. It probably won’t happen but it can, so be
should run will be helpful to inexperienced users, aware and if you have accidently sanded a nail or
it is this inside edge that does the damage. This screw then dispose of your sander dust outside
process should be undertaken each time a belt is in the open and check that it hasn’t started to
changed and checked on a constant basis. burn. The golden rule of sanding applies to the
You may have noticed that most belts have a use of this machine in almost all situations- sand
directional arrow on the inside of them, it is with the grain. The reasons for this I will cover
important that you fit the belt according to this later in this article however it is critically
arrow. The reason for this is that the belt has important in just about every situation. The only
been joined by lapping and gluing the joint, if the time you may wish to sand across the grain is if
belt travels in the wrong direction then there is a you are really wanting to remove a large quantity
risk of the lapped join being lifted and peeled of material in a hurry. A 60 or 40 grit belt used
apart. Some belts are multi directional due to the across the grain will remove a lot of material in a
fact that the join is butted and taped, not lapped, short time, follow up sanding with the grain to
these would not have an arrow indicating direc- remove the scratches is required, then go to a
tion so don’t freak if you can’t find it, you simply finer belt to eliminate the coarser scratches.
have a belt with a different join. An issue that can occur whilst using a coarse belt
Another common problem is wear on the slip is that the belt removes long furry fibre of wood
cloth. This is a graphite impregnated sheet that is from the job and sometimes these clog the dust
immediately between the inside of the belt and chute carrying the dust to the bag. You should
the base plate of the machine, its purpose being notice this by the fact that the machine will be
to reduce friction between the two surfaces thus depositing dust all over the job and not into the
reducing heat buildup and reducing the amount bag. To clear these blockages requires removal
of power required to drive the belt. This does of the belt and bag and then compressed air
wear and should be replaced periodically. being blown both into the pickup opening behind
There is also a cork sheet immediately between the rear roller and through the chute at the dust
the slip cloth and body of the machine, if this is bag, do it outside and beware of the escaping
worn then you haven’t been replacing the slip dust. Occasionally you may find that the fan is
cloth when required and you should replace this also blocked, this requires removal of the side
as well. I have actually seen both these worn cover and clearing the flutes of the fan with air.
14 | SHED NEWS AUTUMN 2021AROUN D T HE SHED S
1 3
Kentish President and TMSA committee member Terry
Hughes receiving his Australia Day Volunteering Award
for services to his Kentish Community
2 4
1: Always lovely work on display at 2: Paul from Port Cygnet with his signature piece 4: Nearly finished - David Jones surveying
Veterans and Community Wood - his hand woven baskets. Brad looking on the new deck at MACS Ravenswood
Centre -Kings Meadows 3: Enjoying some sunshine while oiling a set of
coasters is Brian Beardwood at Veterans and
Community Wood Centre
AUTUMN 2021 SHED NEWS | 15AROUN D T HE SHED S
1 2 3
1, 2 & 3: More from Penguin
CA RB ATE C .C OM.AU
Carbatec are the new Aussie stockists of Laguna. Bandsaws, Thicknessers, Joiners, Lathes, Dust extractors,
Room Air Filters, Blades and Laguna accessories – all receive your Men’s Shed discount at Carbatec
16 | SHED NEWS AUTUMN 2021One Man’s trash is another Man’s treasure.
On this occasion it can be said “One man’s trash can be a Men’s Shed
treasure” This is a timeless story that can happen at any Men’s Shed
when items donated to the Shed can become “little gems”.
In this particular story it happened at the With the assistance of a fellow Shedder, over a
Longford Men’s Shed a few years ago. couple of days, we sanded all the components back
It was during a lunch break, there happened to be a to bare wood with the exception of the profile of
couple of Shedders who decided to have lunch at the table top edge, one corner was badly damaged
the Shed as per their normal practice. and we decided we would make a decision as to
A bloke drove into the Shed carpark and knocked how we would make a repair later in the process. (It
on the door of the tearoom, stuck his head in the was finally decided that to recover the damaged
door and said he had some timber he wanted to corner without changing the integrity of the table,
donate to the Shed, pretty common occurrence. It that we would after assembling the table top we
was an old wooden kitchen table in pieces he had would shorten the top by 20mm and re-router the
brought down from Queensland when he moved to top edge all round with a slightly different profile
Longford two years previously and which he had and cut 2mm deeper). This worked perfectly,
intended to restore, but had never got round to damage removed and integrity retained.
doing so. He had decided he was sick of the Next we fully assembled the table and gave a final
weather down here and was now returning to sanding; our quandary was what to apply as a
Queensland. His comment was “if you don’t want it protective coating Shellac as originally or use a
(the table) I will take it to the Tip.” The boys said, just modern varnish or something else. We decided
leave it up against the outside wall, as we may be finally to use Danish Oil being a natural oil that
able to use the timber for something else. could be reapplied to maintain the finish. The result
When I returned from lunch, I asked the boys what’s was a magnificent low sheen lustre that enhanced
the timber leaning against the wall was for, they the colour and grain structure of the Silky Oak.
gave me the story about the bloke who had called
in and left the timber. I became suspicious that the
Continued
table having come from Queensland and being an
old kitchen table the timber, could be Queensland
Silky Oak. I knew from my travels around
Queensland that the common furniture timber up
to the 1960’s was Silky Oak and that now it is a
protected species that can no longer be harvested
unless on private property. It was difficult to tell
what the timber was as the surface coating was
Shellac and with time and use had discoloured to
an opaque dark chocolate colour. (Depending
where grown Queensland Silky Oak can vary from
near white to a dark orange and is prone to colour
variation just like Tasmania’s Blackwood and Myrtle.)
My suspicions came true that afternoon when we
sanded one of the table top planks, revealing a
lovely light orange timber with the grain structure of
Silky Oak, (Silky Oak in grain structure is very similar
to She-oak and Bull-oak here in Tasmania).
Investigating further we identified that all the
components, top, rails, legs and timber cleats were
all there, including the original slotted screws. What
a find! After discussion with other Shedders we
decided to return the table to as near original
condition as possible.
AUTUMN 2021 SHED NEWS | 17One Man’s trash is another Man’s treasure. Cont When the table was fully finished we noticed that it In the meantime I guessed that $500 was a fair didn’t seem to be high enough. It looked as though price and one of our members offered to pay that someone in the past had shortened the legs. Upon much for it. I suggested that we wait for the checking the legs we found that there were four evaluation and if it was less than the offer it would small holes in a square pattern in the base of each be sold at valuation. But, if valuation was more it leg. The penny dropped! The table must have would be sold to the member for $500. When the originally had castors but we didn’t get them with valuer finally came (a week later), he said he was the timber. After fossicking around in our boxes of impressed with the restoration work we had donated bits and pieces we discovered we had a achieved and his estimation was that it was full set of Castor brand castors in their original probably made in the early 1950’s and that if he cardboard box, how lucky can you be. Once fitted had it in his shop it would have a price tag of the problem of table height was solved. between $1,300 to $1,350 on it. Our last problem to solve was what we were going Our member who made the offer took a week to to do with the table. Answer, sell it. But what was it get the smile off his face. That table has pride of worth? We had put a lot of effort into the resto- place in his kitchen (with a protective clear cover on ration and knowing what the timber was and the top) in a house of the same era and is used guessing that the table was similar in design to every day. those of our youth we estimated that it had to be of the 1940-50’s vintage. I asked the local proprietor of Author, the Longford Antiques Shop to come and give an Bob Thomas assessment of the table. Longford Men’s Shed 18 | SHED NEWS AUTUMN 2021
SHED N EWS
Early days - Swansea Shed commitment
Shed stories
There’s still a few
copies of our Shed
Stories available -
contact Wendy if
you’d like a few
copies, it’s a great
read and it was
fantastic to have so
many share their
stories. And there’s
more to come.
AUTUMN 2021 SHED NEWS | 19SHED N EWS
Campbell Town District Men’s Shed
Outgoing President Steve Robinson
welcomes new President Brent Story in
his role. Plenty of things happening at the
Shed - including surfboard shaping!
20 | SHED NEWS AUTUMN 2021You can also read
